Water vehicle



Dec. 10, 1957 o. 1.. KUEHN 2,815,518

WATER VEHICLE Filed Nov. 23 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. OTTO L.KUEHN ATTORNEYS Dec. 10, 1957 O, L, KUEHN 2,815,518

WATER VEHICLE I Filed Nov. 23, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

OTTO L. KUEHN BY moud 77M ATTORNEYS Dec. 10, 1957 o. 1.. KUEHN 2,815,518

WATER VEHICLE Filed Nov. 25, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-7 v FIG-8INVENTOR.

OTTO L. KUEHN BY 711M ATTORNEYS all equivalents thereof.

r 2,815,518 Patented Dec. 10, 1957 ice WATER VEHICLE OttoL. Kuehn,Hartland, Wis.

Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 623,903

; 11 Claims. '(Cl. 9-21) This invention relates to improvements in watervehicles, and more particularly to a surf board adapted to be ridden bya person while the surf board is being towed by a motorboat. Y -Foraquatic sports and recreation, motorboat towed devices and vehicles suchas water skis and surf boards have become increasingly popular and thesame require a -high' degree of skill and dexterity on the part of theriders. The present invention aims generally at the provision of a noveltype'of water vehicle'adapted to be towed at a moderate rate of speed bya motor-boat and [to be ridden byv a person in a standing, sitting orkneeling position while requiring skill, dexterity and alertness in "themanipulationof the improved surf board.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a towable watervehicle in the nature of a surf board equipped with hydro-foils which,depending upon the weight of the person riding the surf board and therate of speed at which it isbeing towed, will permit the surf board tomove a certain distanceabove the surface of the water, with only thehydro-foils gliding through the water,

with the result that the rider receives a sensation of flying. I

A further, more specific object of the invention is to provide a towablewater vehicle which is equipped with "surf board when thereleasemechanism disengages the surf board from the tow rope.

- A-furthenmore specific'object of the invention is to provide a towablewater vehicle which maybe steered .by manually engaging hand ropes alongthe'sides of the surf board when the rider'is in a kneeling-or standingposition or which may be steered by means of a footoperated tiller barwhen the rider is in a sittingposition.

A further object of i the invention isto provide a towable water vehicleof a very novel character providing sport for the rider thereof, whichhas a unique action and rides substantially out of the water, which canbe controlled and otherwise manipulated by the rider, and which is welladapted for the purposes described.

1 With the aboveand other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved towable water vehicle, and

its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and

1111, the accompanying; drawingsiii which the same ref- ;pe ase shaacierai dia e th amalgam f t views:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved surf board type of towable watervehicle;

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the surf board on a reduced scale showing thepositions of the hydro-foils;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the front end ofthe surf board showing the release mechanism for the tow rope and thesteering hand ropes and foot tiller; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along theline 5-5 of. Fig. 1 and showing the tiller and its sheave;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the undersurface of the surf board showing one of the front hydro-foils and therelease mechanism therefor;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the under surface of therear end of the surf board showing the rear hydro-foil and its releasemechanism; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the foils, the viewbeing taken approximately along the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will appear that theimproved water vehicle, in the nature of a towable surf board, consistsof a relatively thin elongated board or panel member 10 formed of woodor other suitable material and shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, beingslightly tapered toward the rear end with an enlarged rounded front endportion.

Secured to the top surface of the surf board 10 rearwardly of thetransverse median is a soft rubber pad llfor the rider in a sitting orkneeling position to prevent slipping and to add to the comfort of theride. If the rider is in a standing position his feet may be engaged byconventional water ski bindings 12 on opposite sides of the pad 11.Secured to the top surface of the board 10 on'opposite sides of the pad11 and ski bindings 12 are hand rails 13 which may be grasped when therider is in the form of a V-shaped stirrup, as best shown in Figs. 3, 6and 7, and Fig. 8 shows a sectional view through an arm portion of ahydro-foil, disclosing that the hydrofoil arms in cross section aresomewhat pillow-shaped and are tapered toward their side margins.

The manner in which the rear hydro-foil 14 is mounted is shown mostclearly in Fig. 7. There, it will be observed, that the opposite upperend portions of the hydro- .foil arms are mounted on a pivot rod 16which at its surf board forwardly of its'transve'rse median. is thenwrapped several times about a large. 'sheave 21 *carried'by a stub shaft22 journalledthrough the surf ends is journalled through the down-turnedends of an elongated U-bracket 1'7. The U-bracket 17 is centrallypivotally depended from the under surface of the rear of thesurf boardit by a pivot stud 18. The pivotal mounting of the rear hydro-foil 14permits the surf board to'be steeredand maneuvered while it is beingtowed rearwardly of the motorboat. The rear end portions of extents of asteering cable 19 are anchored to opposite arm portions of the U-bracket17, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. From the U-bracket 17 these extents ofthe steering cable 19 extend forwardly along the underside of the surfboard it and are guided about a pairof small pulleys Ztl mounted on theunder surface of the The cable boariand whose outer' end portionjab ovethe top surface of the surf board, is secured to an intermediate portionof a transverse tiller bar 23 (see Figs. 1 and 4). Turnbuckles 24 in theextents of the steering cable 19 adjacent the under surface of the surfboard, permit the steering cable to be tightened if necessary. Theextreme outer ends of the tiller bar 23 carry integral depending eyedmembers 25 through which are passed opposite longitudinal extents of ahand rope 26 which extents are knotted forwardly of the eyed members 25,as at 27, so that a manual pull on either longitudinal extent of thehand rope 26 will bring a knotted portion 27 into impingement with theadjacent eyed member 25 to pivotally move the tiller bar 23 in aclockwise or counterclockwise direction. The rear ends of the sidelongitudinal extents of the hand ropes 26 are entirely free of the surfboard and are grasped by the rider either singly or in conjunction withthe hand-rails 13. Forwardly of the tiller bar 23 the side extents ofthe hand rope 26 engage pulleys 29 and then are threaded through theeyed extremities 30 of rearwardly projecting arms 31 which are integralwith and carried by opposite end portions of a forward transverse rockbar 32. There is, therefore, a forward transverse extent of the handrope 26 between the eyed extremities 30 of the rock bar arms 31.

Opposite end portions of the rock bar 32 are journalled in bearingbrackets 33 which are spacedly mounted on the top front surface portionof the surf board 10. Opposite outer end portions of the rock bar 32carry fingers 34 which, when the rock bar 32 is oscillated in a certaindirection, are adapted to swing downwardly through openings 35 thereforin opposite sides of the forward end of the surf board for the purposeof operating certain front hydro-foil controlling mechanism shown inFig. 6 and which will be explained more fully hereinafter. v

The rock bar 32, intermediate its ends, is formed with a hook 36 whichis normally rearwardly directed and which is engaged by the looped rearend portion 37 of an elongated releasable tow rope 38. The latterextends forwardly to the stern portion of a towing motorboat to whichthe forward end of the tow rope 38 is attached. An upstanding aperturedbracket plate 39 ad jacent the front end of the surf board 10 guides thetow rope 38 and prevents the tow rope from pulling at an angle relativeto the hook 36 as the surf board swings back and forth from side to sidewhile being towed behind the motor-boat. When the looped portion 37 ofthe tow rope is disengaged from the rock bar hook 36, it will passfreely through the apertured bracket 39 to completely detach the surfboard from the tow rope which is desirable should the surf board capsizeor spill the rider who, in such an event, will manually release the handrope 26 and thereby permit rocking movement of the rock bar 32, as willhereinafter be described.

An intermediate portion of the rock bar 32 also has formed thereon aneyed lug 40 to which is anchored the forward end of the rear hydro-foiloperating cable The latter extends slidably through a covered aperture42' in the forward end of the surf board and said rear hydro-foiloperating cable 41 then continues longitudinally of the under surface ofthe surf board (see Fig. 2) to a tripping latch 42 which is operativelyassociated with the rear hydro-foil 14. As will appear from Fig. 7, thetripping latch 42 is depended from the bracket 17 which pivotallycarries the rear hydro-foil 14. The latch 42, which is spring loaded,normally engages the bar 16 so that under normal operating conditionssaid hydro-foil is retained in the position illustrated. When the handrope 26 is released by the surf board operator, either intentionally orthrough a fall or capsize, the pull exerted by the tow rope 38 on therocking bar 32 will then cause said bar 32 to rock forwardly through anangle of 180 because of the release of the rope 26 which normally holdsthe rocking bar in the position of Fig. 4. With the forward oscillationof the rocking bar 32 and the disengagement of the tow rope from thehook 36 there will be a forward pull on the rear hydro-foil operatingcable 41 which releases the spring loaded tripping latch 42 for the rearhydrofoil. The water pressure against the rear hydro-foil will thencause it to fold back against the under-surface of the surf board so asnot to form an objectionable protuberance.

Similarily, the front hydro-foils 15 may be released so as to fold backagainst the under surface of the surf board when the hand rope 26 ismanually released to permit a forward oscillation of the rocking bar 32and a release of the tow rope 38. In this event, the two fingers 34which are carried by the rock bar 32 immediately above the fronthydro-foils swing downwardly through the openings 35 and press andmanipulate the tongue portions of spring loaded latches 43 best shown inFig. 6. These latches then disengage transverse pivotal bars 44 whoseend portions are journalled in brackets 45 on the forward under-surfaceof the surf board. Said end portions of the pivotal bars 44 carry theopposite ends of the arms of the hydro-foils 15.

The legs defining the V-shape of each hydro-foil are at an angle ofapproximately 42 from horizontal in order that the lifting surface ofthe hydro-foils is gradually reduced as the entire surf board slowlyrises out of the water while being towed by a motor-boat. Depending uponthe weight of the person riding the surf board and the rate of speed atwhich it is being towed, the hydro-foils serve to substantially elevatethe surf board relative to the surface of the water and in practicethere may be only several inches at the bottom of the V-portion of eachhydro-foil gliding through the water. The surf board proper and theupper portions of the hydro-foils will project above the surface of thewater so that the rider of the surf board is actually gliding quitefreely and receives the sensation of flying over the surface of thewater.

If the rider of the surf board is in a standing position he will, ofcourse, hold in his hands the opposite longitudinal extents of the handrope 26. Through the knots 27 therein which engage the eyed extremitiesof the tiller bar 23, by pulling on one or the other extents of the handrope the tiller bar is turned and through the engagement of the samewith the large sheave 31 on which the steering cable 19 is wound, therear U-bracket 17 to which the rear extremities of the steering cable 19are attached and thus the rear hydro-foil 14 may be turned or pivoted ina horizontal plane to steer or otherwise maneuver the surf board. Therearward pull which the rider normally exerts on the hand rope 16 alsoserves to hold the rock bar 32 in its rearward position wherein the towrope is maintained in an engaged position and the hydro-foil releasingmembers are held in normal position. There is sufiicient slack in therear hydro-foil operating cable 41 that it will not trip and release thelatch 42 during steering pivotal movements of the rear hydro-foil.

To operate the surf board in a sitting position it is preferable toremove the hand rope 26 from the eyed extremities 25 of the tiller bar23. The operator simply holds the side extents of the hand rope 26tightly in his hands which also grasp the hand rails 13. The 0peratorsfeet engage opposite sides of the tiller bar 23 and thus the surf boardmay be steered or maneuvered by turning the rear hydro-foil through footmovement of the tiller bar. Should the operator, either in a standing,sitting or kneeling position, release the hand rope 26, then therearward restraint on the rock bar 32 will be overcome and the pull onthe tow rope 38 will cause the rock bar to oscillate forwardly as abovedescribed, releasing the tow rope so that the surf board will not befurther towed by the motor-boat and atthe same time the various latchesfor the hydro-foils will-be released so that the hydro-foils may foldback against the under- .surface of the surf board. This is a veryadvantageous safety factor which is desirable should the rider fall ofiof the surf board or otherwise lose control thereof.

, The improved towable water vehicle, in the nature of a surf board, isunique, eliminates hazards to the rider while affording amusement, andis otherwise well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A towable water vehicle, comprising a flat board member, hydro-foilsoperatively mounted on undersurface portions of the board and steeringcontrol members for said hydro-foils located on the front portion of theboard.

2. A towable water vehicle, comprising a flat board member, a hydro-foilsecured to and underlying the front end portion of the board member, ahydro-foil pivotally mounted on the rear undersurface portion of theboard, and a steering tiller bar located on the top surface of the frontportion of the board, and means extending along the undersurface to therear hydro-foil to pivotally move the same.

3. A towable water vehicle, comprising a fiat board member, hydro-foilsmovably mounted on the undersurface of the board member, a tow ropeengaging and releasing member operatively mounted on the forward endportion of the board, and means accessible from the top surface of theboard for releasably maintaining the tow rope engaging and releasingmember in its engaging condition.

4. A towable water vehicle, comprising a fiat board member, hydro-foilsmovably mounted on the undersurface of the board member, a tow ropecatch mounted on the forward end portion of the board for fore and aftmovement, a tow rope engaged at its rear end by said catch and exertinga forward pull on the catch to urge it toward its releasing position,and a manually engageable member extending rearwardly ofsaid tow ropecatch which when pulled rearwardly overcomes the for ward pull by thetow rope on the catch to.thereby releasably maintain the catch in itsaft, tow rope engaging position.

5. A towable water vehicle, comprising a flat board member adapted toreceive a rider, a movable tow rope catch operatively mounted on theforward end portion of the board member, said catch being adapted toreleasably receive the looped rear end portion of a tow rope which, whenthe pull thereon is unrestrained moves the catch to tow rope releasingposition, and a control member connected to the catch and extendingtherefrom opposite to the direction of extent of the tow rope to beengaged by the rider of the board to restrain the catch against beingpulled to releasing position by the tow rope.

6. A towable water vehicle, comprising a board member adapted to hold arider, a transverse rod oscillatably mounted on the front end portion ofthe board and being formed with an integral hook to engage the loopedrear end of a forwardly extended tow rope when the rod is turned andheld in a position wherein the hook is rearwardly directed, anunrestrained forward pull on the hook by the tow rope causing the rod tooscillate to direct the hook forwardly to a tow rope releasing position,and a hand rope connected to the bar and extending rearwardly to bereleasably engaged by the rider of the board to hold the rod in aposition with the hook directed rearwardly against the forward pullexerted by the tow rope.

7. A towable water vehicle, comprising a flat board member, a pair oflaterally spaced front hydro-foils movably mounted on the frontundersurface of the board to swing in a plane perpendicular to the planeof the board, a rear hydro-foil movably mounted on a rear undersurfaceportion of the board to pivot in a plane parallel to the plane of theboard and to swing in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the board,steering mechanismextending from the top of the board to said rearhydro-foil to pivot the same, a tow rope catch mounted on the forwardend portion of the board for fore and aft movement, said catch beingreleasably engageable with a tow rope which wlnen exerting a forwardunrestrained pull on the catch urges it toward its forward tow ropereleasing position, means operatively connected with said catch andcontrolled by forward movements thereof for swinging said hydro-foils ina plane perpendicular to the plane of the board, and a manuallyengageable member extending rearwardly of the tow rope catch to restrainforward movement of the latter.

8. In a water vehicle of the surf board type, a board member for arider, a tow rope catch operatively mounted on the front end portion ofthe board member and normally urged to tow rope releasing position by anunre strained pull thereon exerted by an engaged tow rope, and manualmeans extending to the riders station on the board to hold the tow ropecatch in tow rope retaining position against the pull exerted by the towrope.

9. In a water vehicle of the surf board type, a board member for arider, hydro-foils underlying portions of the board member, one of saidhydro-foils being turnable for steering purposes, a steering cableextended to said turnable hydro-foil, a tow rope catch operativelymounted on the front end portion of the board member and normally urgedto tow rope releasing position by an unrestrained pull thereon exertedby an engaged tow rope, and a control rope connected to said catch andextending to the riders station on the board to hold the tow rope catchin tow rope retaining position against the pull exerted by the tow rope,said control rope being connected with the steering cable.

10. A towable water vehicle, comprising a board member adapted to hold arider, hydro-foils swingably mounted on the undersurface of the board,spring loaded latches releasably engageable with said hydro-foils tonormally hold the same substantially perpendicular to the plane of theboard, a tow rope catch movably mounted on the front end portion of theboard having a tow rope engaging position and a tow rope releasingposition, said catch being adapted to be engaged by the rear end of atow rope which when the forward pull exerted thereby is unrestrainedmoves said catch to tow rope releasing position, a hand rope connectedto the catch and extending rearwardly to be releasably engaged by therider of the board to hold the catch in tow rope retaining positionagainst the forward pull exerted by the tow rope, and means operativelyconnected with the hand rope and extending to the hydro-foil springloaded latches to release the same from the hydro-foils when the pullexerted by the tow rope on its catch is unrestrained by the hand rope.

11. A towable water vehicle, comprising a board member adapted to hold arider, hydro-foils vertically swingably mounted on the undersurface ofthe board, one of said hydro-foils also being horizontally turnable forsteering purposes, spring loaded latches releasably engageable with saidhydro-foils to normally hold the same substantially perpendicular to theplane of the board, a tow rope catch oscillatably mounted for fore andaft movement on the front end portion of the board having a rear towrope engaging position and a forward tow rope releasing position, saidcatch being adapted to be engaged by the rear end of a tow rope whichwhen the forward pull exerted thereby is unrestrained moves said catchto its forward tow rope releasing position, a hand rope connected to thecatch and extending rearwardly to be releasably engaged by the rider ofthe board to hold the catch in its rear tow rope retaining positionagainst the forward pull exerted by the tow rope, means operativelyconnected with the hand rope and extending to the hydro foil springloaded latches to release the same from the hydro-foils when the pullexerted by the tow rope on its hydro-foil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBaldwin Feb. 6, 1923 8 Waller Dec. 8, 1931 Lake Feb. 23, 1932 TietjensOct. 9, 1934 Herz July 19, 1955 Dees Feb. 21, 1956 Shepard June 26, 1956

